Round baler with mechanism for dispensing wrapping material

ABSTRACT

An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to agricultural balers typicallyreferred to as round balers which form cylindrical (i.e. round) bales ofcrop material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,812 granted Oct. 3, 1989 to R. E. Jennings et al.discloses a round baler wherein a sledge assembly consisting of aplurality of rollers cooperates with an apron consisting of a pluralityof belts to define a bale forming chamber. The sledge assembly ismovable between bale starting and full bale positions during baleformation. A drawback of the baler disclosed in the Jennings et alpatent is that it is difficult to employ conventional wrapping apparatussuch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,366,665 to R. M. Van Ginhoven etal. and 4,790,125 to J. H. Merritt because the throat or inlet for thebale forming chamber is more confined on the baler of the Jennings et alpatent. Furthermore, there is less space on the baler of the Jennings etal. patent for mounting the conventional wrapping apparatus of the VanGinhoven et al. and Merritt patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an agricultural baler of the type formaking cylindrical bales of crop material wherein the baler comprises amain frame, a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame, a sledgeassembly mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale startingposition and a full bale position, and an apron movably supported on themain frame and the tailgate. The sledge assembly includes a plurality ofrollers extending transversely of the main frame, and the aproncooperates with the rollers of the sledge assembly to define a baleforming chamber. The baler also comprises dispensing means carried onthe sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material into the bale formingchamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindricalbale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispensingmeans is pivotally mounted on the sledge assembly for movement between aretracted position and a dispensing position. The dispensing means isoperable in the dispensing position for inserting a tail of the sheetmaterial through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of thesledge assembly so that this tail is caught between the one roller and acylindrical bale which is rotated in the bale forming chamber by theapron. In this embodiment, the sledge assembly includes idler meansengaging the apron for maintaining the apron in close proximity to theone roller during movement of the sledge assembly between the balestarting and full bale positions. The gap for inserting the sheetmaterial into the bale forming chamber is located between the idlermeans and the one roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a round baler according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating the operationbaler of FIG. 1 when wrapping a bale;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part of the baler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 5--5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 6--6 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a round baler 10 according to the present inventionincludes a main frame 12 supported by a pair of wheels 14. A tongue 16is provided on the forward portion of the main frame 12 for connectionto a tractor (not shown). A tailgate 18 is pivotally connected to themain frame 12 by stub shafts 20 so that the tailgate 18 may be closed asshown in FIG. 1 during bale formation or opened to discharge a completedbale. A conventional pickup 22 is mounted on the main frame 12 and issupported by a pair of wheels (not shown). The pickup 22 includes aplurality of fingers or tines 24 movable in a predetermined path to liftcrop material from the ground and deliver it rearwardly toward a floorroll 26 which is rotatably mounted on the main frame 12.

A sledge assembly 28 includes a plurality of rollers 30, 32, 34extending transversely of the main frame 12 in an arcuate arrangementbest seen in FIG. 2. The rollers 30, 32, 34 are journalled at the endsthereof in a pair of spaced apart arms 36. These arms 36 are pivotallymounted inside the main frame 12 on stub shafts 38 for permittingmovement of the sledge assembly 28 between a bale starting positionshown in broken lines in FIG. 1 and a full bale position shown in solidlines in FIG. 1. The rollers 30, 32, 34 are driven in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 by conventional means (for example,chains and sprockets or gears) connected with a drive shaft 17 which isadapted for connection to the power take off of a tractor (not shown). Astripper roll 39 is located adjacent roller 30 and is driven in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to strip crop material fromthe roller 30. An idler roller 40 is carried by the arms 36 for movementin an arcuate path when the sledge assembly 29 moves between its balestarting and full bale positions. The idler roller 40 is freelyrotatable.

An apron 42 includes a plurality of flat belts arranged side-by-side andsupported on guide rolls 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 which are rotatably mountedin the tailgate 18. The apron 42 is also supported on a drive roll 54which is rotatably mounted in the main frame 12. Although the apron 42passes between the roller 34 and the idler roller 40, it is inengagement with only the idler roller 40 but the roller 34 is located inclose proximity to the apron belts to strip crop material from the apron42. Further conventional means (not shown) are connected with the driveshaft 17 to provide rotation of the drive roll 54 in a direction whichcauses movement of the apron 42 along the path indicated in broken linesin FIG. 1. An additional guide roll 55 in the main frame 12 ensuresproper driving engagement between the apron 42 and the drive roll 54. Apair of take up arms 56 are pivotally mounted on the main frame 12 by across shaft 58 for movement between inner and outer positions shown inFIG. 1. Take up arms 56 carry additional guide rolls 60 and 62 forsupporting the apron 42. Resilient means (not shown) are provided tonormally urge the take up arms 56 toward their inner positions whileresisting movement thereof from their inner positions to their outerpositions.

When the round baler 10 is in the condition shown in FIG. 1 with thetailgate 18 closed, an inner course 42a of the apron 42 extendingbetween the guide roll 44 and the idler roller 40 cooperates with therollers 30, 32, 34 of the sledge assembly 28 to define a bale formingchamber. The apron inner course 42a forms a rear wall of the chamberwhile the rollers 30, 32, 34 form a front wall of the chamber. The floorroll 26 is disposed in the bottom of the chamber between the front andrear walls thereof, and the roller 30 is spaced from the floor roll 26to form a throat or inlet for the chamber.

As the round baler 10 is towed across a field by a tractor (not shown),the pickup tines 24 lift crop material from the ground and deliver itthrough the throat formed between the floor roll 26 and the roller 30into the bale forming chamber of the baler 10 . The crop material iscarried rearwardly by the floor roll 26 into engagement with the aproninner course 42a which carries it upwardly and forwardly into engagementwith the rollers 30, 32, 34. The crop material is coiled in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 1 to start a bale core. Continued feeding ofcrop material into the bale forming chamber by the pickup tines 24causes the apron inner course 42a to expand in length around a portionof the circumference of the bale core as the diameter thereof increases.The take up arms 56 rotate from their inner position shown in FIG. 1toward their outer position to permit such expansion of the apron innercourse 42a. When a bale has been formed and then wrapped as describedlater with sheet material such as net or plastic film, the tailgate 18is opened by conventional means (for example, hydraulic cylinders) andthe bale is ejected. Subsequent closing of the tailgate 18 returns theapron inner course 42a to the location shown in FIG. 1, and the roundbaler 10 is ready to form another bale.

It will be understood that during formation of a bale, sledge assembly28 moves from its bale starting position to its full bale position. Thismovement of the sledge assembly 28 causes the idler roller 40 to move inan arcuate path while maintaining the apron 42 in close proximity to theroller 34, thereby allowing the roller 34 to strip crop material fromthe apron 42 but preventing the loss of crop material between the roller34 and the apron 42 during formation of a bale. The sledge assembly 28is pushed outwardly toward its full bale position during bale formationand is pulled inwardly toward its bale starting position during baleejection without utilizing any additional mechanisms.

In an alternative embodiment of the round baler 10 which is not shown,apron 42 consists of a pair of chains connected together at spacedintervals by transverse slats, and the idler roller 40 is replaced by apair of idler sprockets engaged with the chains. Also in thisalternative embodiment, the guide rolls 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 55, 60, 62would be replaced with guide sprockets for engaging the apron chains,and the drive roll 54 would be replaced by drive sprockets.

According to the present invention, bale wrapping apparatus 64 shown inFIG. 1 includes a dispensing mechanism 66 pivotally mounted on thesledge assembly 28 and a cutting mechanism 68 pivotally mounted on themain frame 12. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dispensing mechanism66 comprises a pair of levers 70 spaced apart but connected by a framemember 71. The levers 70 are rotatably supported on a cross tube 72 thatextends between the arms 36 of the sledge assembly 28. Each lever 70 isattached to the cross tube 72 by a clevis 74, and bolts 76 fasten eachclevis 74 to brackets 78 fixed to the levers 70. A stop 73 is carried onone of the levers 70 for engagement with one of the arms 36 of thesledge assembly 28 to limit pivoting movement of the dispensingmechanism 66 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2.

The dispensing mechanism 66 also comprises clamping members 80, 82extending transversely of the baler 10 between the levers 70 andarranged to dispense sheet material S such as net or plastic film from asupply roll R disposed in a container 83 carried on the baler main frame12. Container 83 has a lid 85 which may be opened to permit removal ofthe supply roll R. Clamping members 80 and 82 are mounted respectivelyon bars 84 and 86 which extend between the levers 70. Springs 88 andlinks 90 are arranged to urge the clamping member 82 against theclamping member 80. Each spring 88 is connected at one end to one of thelinks 90 and at the other end to an eye bolt 92 that is fastened to aflange member 94 on one of the brackets 78. The links 90 are engagedwith the clamping member 82 in a manner which, due to springs 88, urgesthe clamping member 82 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 3 about the rod86. As the sheet material S is dispensed from the supply roll R by thedispensing mechanism 66, it passes over a roller shaft 95 which ismounted in and extends transversely of the baler main frame 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, bale wrapping apparatus 64 also includes a powersource such as an electric motor 96 mounted on the main frame 12 with anoutput shaft 97 thereof connected to a large sprocket 98 by a drivechain 100. Another drive chain 102 connects a small sprocket 104 (whichis attached to large sprocket 98) with a sprocket 106. A further drivechain 108 connects a small sprocket 110 (which is attached to sprocket106) and a small sprocket 112. A first link 1-4 is pinned at one end todrive chain 108 and pivoted at the other end to a second link 116. Athird link 118 is pivotally connected between the second link 116 andone of the levers 70 of the dispensing mechanism 66.

The cutting mechanism 68 includes a pair of spaced apart arms 120rotatably supported on a shaft 122. A knife 124 is carried by andextends transversely between the arms 120 for engagement with the sheetmaterial S dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 66. The arms 120 arerotated on the shaft 122 by means (not shown) such as a cam actuatedlinkage connected between one of the arms 120 and the link 114. Theclamping members 80 and 82 of the dispensing mechanism 66 include upperand lower plates 126 and 128, respectively, between which the sheetmaterial S is fed. Upper plate 126 has a leading edge 126a with aplurality of generally semicircular notches 127 formed therein as shownin FIG. 5 while lower plate 128 has a leading edge 128a with a pluralityof serrated teeth 129 formed therein as shown in FIG. 6.

When a bale B has been formed in the round baler 10 and it is desired towrap the bale B with the sheet material S, the electric motor 96 isactivated while the apron 42 continues to rotate the bale B in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The output shaft 97 ofthe electric motor 96 drives the sprocket 106 via chains 100, 102.Sprocket 110 drives sprocket 112 via chain 108 which causes movement ofthe links 114, 116, 118 from the solid line positions of FIG. 2 to thebroken line positions of FIG. 2. This rotates the dispensing mechanism66 from a retracted position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 to adispensing position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. In the retractedposition of the dispensing mechanism 66, a tail T of the sheet materialS is gripped by the clamping members 80, 82 thereby preventing the sheetmaterial S from being fed into the bale forming chamber of the baler 10.However, in the dispensing position of the dispensing mechanism 66, thetail T of the sheet material S is inserted into the bale forming chamberand sheet material S is dispensed from the supply roll R into the baleforming chamber.

As the dispensing mechanism 66 moves toward its dispensing position, thecutting mechanism 68 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 2 and theclamping members 80, 82 move into a gap 35 between the roller 34 and theapron 42. The tail T of the sheet material S gripped between theclamping members 80, 82 is inserted through the gap 35 into the baleforming chamber where it is caught between the roller 34 and the bale Bwhich are rotating in opposite directions. The sheet material S is thendispensed from the supply roll R, over the roller shaft 95, between theclamping members 80 and 82, and then through the gap 35 into the baleforming chamber where it is wrapped circumferentially around the bale Bwhile the bale B continues to be rotated by the apron 42.

After the bale B has been wrapped with one or more layers of the sheetmaterial S, the electric motor 96 is reversed thereby moving thedispensing mechanism 66 from the dispensing position shown in brokenlines in FIG. 2 to the retracted position shown in solid lines in FIG.2. The links 114, 116, 118 move back to their solid line positions ofFIG. 2. When the dispensing mechanism 66 has returned to its retractedposition, the cutting mechanism 68 is rotated counterclockwise as viewedin FIG. 2 so that the knife 124 is brought downwardly into contact withthe sheet material S extending from the clamping members 80, 82 of thedispensing mechanism 66. The knife 124 cuts the sheet material S butleaves another tail T which is gripped by the clamping members 80, 82for future insertion into the bale forming chamber whenever the nextbale is ready to be wrapped with the sheet material S.

The details of the upper and lower plates 126 and 128, respectively, areshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The semicircular notches 127 formed in theleading edge 126a of upper plate 126 prevent the tail T of the sheetmaterial S from being carried out of the gap 35 by the apron 42 when thedispensing mechanism 66 is in the dispensing position. In other words,the notches 127 insure proper dispensing of the sheet material S fromthe supply roll R into the bale forming chamber of the baler 10. Theserrated teeth 129 are provided in the leading edge 128a of lower plate128 for the purpose of allowing the sheet material S to spread to itsnominal width as it is being dispensed from the supply roll R. As seenin FIG. 6, the serrated teeth 129 are slanted outwardly in oppositedirections (i.e. left and right) beginning near the center of the lowerplate 128. This orientation of the teeth 129 allows the sheet material Sto spread transversely across substantially the full width of the baleforming chamber of the baler 10 and keeps the sheet material S spreadwhile it is being wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical baledisposed in the bale forming chamber. Teeth 129 also prevent the sheetmaterial S from retracting after it has been cut by the knife 124thereby assuring the formation of the tail T.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural baler of the type for makingcylindrical bales of crop material, said baler comprising:a main frame,a tailgate pivotally connected to said main frame; a sledge assemblymounted on said main frame for movement between a bale starting positionand a full bale position, said sledge assembly including a plurality ofrollers extending transversely of said main frame; an apron movablysupported on said main frame and said tailgate, said apron cooperatingwith the rollers of said sledge assembly to define a bale formingchamber; and dispensing means carried on said sledge assembly fordispensing sheet material into said bale forming chamber so that thesheet material is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale ofcrop material disposed in said bale forming chamber.
 2. The baler ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing means is pivotally mounted on saidsledge assembly for movement between a retracted position and adispensing position.
 3. The baler of claim 2, wherein said dispensingmeans is operable in said dispensing position for inserting a tail ofthe sheet material through a gap between said apron and one of therollers of the sledge assembly so that the tail is caught between saidone roller and the cylindrical bale which is rotated in the bale formingchamber by said apron.
 4. The baler of claim 3, wherein said sledgeassembly further comprises idler means engaging said apron formaintaining said apron in close proximity to said one roller duringmovement of said sledge assembly between said bale starting and fullbale positions, and wherein said gap is located between said idler meansand said one roller.
 5. The baler of claim 1, wherein said apron has aninner course which is expandable in length around a portion of thecircumference of the cylindrical bale during formation thereof, andwherein said inner course of said apron cooperates with the rollers ofsaid sledge assembly to define said bale forming chamber.
 6. The balerof claim 5, wherein said apron comprises a plurality of flat beltsarranged side-by-side, and wherein the rollers of said sledge assemblyare disposed in an arcuate arrangement.
 7. The baler of claim 5, whereinsaid inner course of said apron forms a rear wall of said bale formingchamber while the rollers of said sledge assembly form a front wall ofsaid bale forming chamber.